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[Godzilla Blues]

Is anyone else finding this strike rather pathetic and misguided given the current economic climate? I have recently received a 10% pay cut and many other folk in the oil industry have been hit with higher cuts. Bus drivers aren't exactly on minimum wage and are obviously using the fact that a strike on their part has a large impact in terms of effect on the public...personally I can't see them gleaning much sympathy when many folk are probably worried about their jobs anyway and could do without being late etc due to the bus strike.

[WoodyRATM]

I agree. And striking did nothing for their public image.
Does anyone know what they're salary starts at just now?

[Frosty Jack]

From what I see, it's a bit complicated because they get various allowances, enhancements depending on what shifts they work, etc. but according to the First site -

Attributable to Bob Dorr, Managing Director
"Our drivers in Aberdeen do a terrific job. However, our drivers are already amongst the highest earners in our UK Bus operations. For the year 2008/09 six drivers (full time) earned a gross salary of £34,000 or above. In the same period 30 (full time) drivers earned a gross salary of £30,000 or above. On average in 2008/09 our full time drivers earned £25,376.
A proportion of drivers' take home pay is made up of generous allowances which includes overtime but also shift allowances, and even meal breaks."

I think they were banking on people being annoyed at how much profit First have been making without 'sharing it out'. However I think most people would like to see it 'shared out' in lower fares, rather than more money for drivers.

[WoodyRATM]

25k still isint really THAT bad of a wage. I think it should have been used for lower fairs. Something like £4 for an all day thing now right? Insane.

[idol_wild]

The day a bus driver is polite and curteous to me as a punter will be the day I may exude some sympathy for them.

The strikes are pretty pathetic really. I was embroiled in the postal strikes of two years ago and it was pretty horrible. The strike team was largely led by absolute fucking monkeys, and it came of no surprise to me that the same men that were leading the strike actions were the same men who were known to be lazy and inconsiderate postmen. I wanted no part of the strike, indeed, I couldn't give a flying fuck about what they were striking about - I just wanted to do my job - but it was made clear to me that if I attended work on the day of the strikes that things could get pretty nasty for me.

So I had to lose out on about a week's worth of pay because of strikes. Pretty ridiculous.

I fucking hate strikes.

[John W]

I think strikes are simply immature, two men behind me on the bus the other day were quite happily expressing their opinions to each other as well. I would love to see t he bus drivers all get told not to come back, plenty people looking for jobs i'm sure they could replace them. That would shut them up about their strike nonsense.

[Lucky Rathen]

There seems to be a big jump between what the bus drivers say they get paid and what the company says they get paid. The bus drivers reckon they're getting paid about £18k pa while the company says they are taking home £25k pa. I think both sides are exaggerating the truth, from what I understand. Steve from Cobra Kai worked as a First driver for years and from what I remember him telling me the basic wage is around £18k, BUT they pay a LOT of bonuses on top of that, for unsociable hours and a few other things that I can't remember, plus the drivers can work as many hours as they like (within reason).

The 18k figure (or whatever the drivers are quoting) isn't strictly true, because that's based on a flat 40 hour week of working day shifts with no bonuses or overtime. While the £26k figure the company are quoting is based on a driver doing like 60 hours a week all early mornings and late nights (for the unsociable hours bonuses), plus claiming for all the stuff they do on their own time like checking over the buses before they leave the depot etc. So both sides are stretching the truth to their own end - the quote from Frosty Jack above does point out that this figure includes overtime and bonuses.

I'm all for anybody taking industrial action if they think they are getting a raw deal, but when it inconveniences the public to this extent they should really try and find another way to make their point.

[pogofish]

Got to say that while I fully support the principle of good public transport, I truly detest First as a company and the methods they use to get the most money for the minimum effort out of the public subsidy.

Anything that takes their buses off the road is a good thing IMO.

[paime]

I think the idea that you should strike because the company you work for makes too much money is absurd. The company i work for makes millions yet i earn less than the bus drivers do! Thats just life! The drivers should realise that businesses are in no way obliged to hand out their profits to their staff.

[The Kernel Loaf]

I wish Stagecoach would do the rounds in town. They would destroy First Bus and their pathetic services.